Shoemaking machine



M. TEERLING ETAL 3,434,169

SHOEMAKING MACHINE March 25, 1969 Sheet of 4 Fig.1

Filed March 7, 1967 7 I 77a. 82 E 40 90 84 90a. lg 1 30 A Lnvegtars;

Q/ v wr Hers)" 7 7 2 %wMJ er mam,

March 25, M. TEERLING ET L 3,434,169

SHOEMAKING MACHINE Filed March 7. 1967 Sheet In ven tors; q 5 aw Re 5, I,

Mal'dl 1969 M. TEERLING ET AL 3,

' SHOEMAKING MACHINE Filed March '7, 1967 Sheet 3 of 4 Fig-5 60 192 193 In vgniors; "3.5. & if! H March 25, 1969 M. TEERLING ETAL 3,434,169

SHOEMAKING MACHINE Filed March '7, 1967 4 Sheet of 4 lnveniors;

United States Patent US Cl. 1212 30 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Each side wiper of the shoemaking machine comprises a series of articulately connected sections which are movable into and away from engagement with the lasting margin of the upper in the ball and shank regions of the last when the side wipers move toward the axis of the last. In addition, the rearmost section of each side wiper is moved out of the plane of the remaining section or sections in automatic response to movement of side wipers to wiping positions to thereby insure that each section will exert against the lasting margin a pressure high enough to effect rapid setting of adhesive which is to bond the lasting margin to the insole. Movement of the rearmost section of each side wiper out of the plane of the remaining sections brings about a chain reaction in that the rearmost section entrains the next-to-the-rearmost section, and so forth, in order that the sections may follow the outline of the ball and shank regions of the last while the foremost sections cooperate with the front wipers which engage the lasting margin in the toe region. In this way, the lasting margin can be wiped in a single operation, not only in the region of the toe but also in the ball and shank regions of the last.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to improvements in shoemaking machines, and more particularly to improvements in pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically or mechanically operated machines wherein the lasting margin of a lasted shoe upper is wiped inwardly over and is pressed against the exposed side of the insole to insure the formation of a satisfactory bond between the insole and lasting margin without developing pockets, wrinkles and/or other irregularities.

It is well known to last the upper of a shoe by pulling the last margin over the insole which has been placed against the underside of the last in a shoemaking machine. The lasting margin and/or the insole is coated with adhesive prior to wiping, i.e., prior to pressing of the lasting margin against the insole. During wiping, the grippers are caused to release the lasting margin so that the latter is pressed solely by the wipers. In presently known shoemaking machines, the front wipers which engage the lasting margin in the toe region of the last are flat so that they cannot be used to wipe the lasting margin in the region of the ball and/or shank. This will be readily understood since the edge of the ball and/or shank region of the last is not coplanar with the edge in the region of the toe, and the deviation is different for each size and/or style of the last. Heretofore known attempts to wipe the lasting margin in a single operation all the way from the toe region to and including the shank region of the last have met with little success, mainly because the side wipers (namely, the wipers which are to wipe the lasting margin in the region of the ball and shank of a last) are too complicated, too costly, too prone to malfunction, not suitable for use in connection with 3,434,169 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 different types and size of lasts, or because they cannot prevent the formation of pockets, wrinkles or other irregularities. Furthermore, such conventional side wipers cannot always transmit to the lasting margin a pressure which sufiices to insure rapid cementing to the insole. The situation is not improved if the side wipers are provided with tracking elements which sense the outline of the last in the ball and shank regions and transmit signals to pressing devices which are used to apply forces required for rapid cementing of the lasting margin to the insole.

Accordingly it is an important object of the present in vention to provide a shoemaking machine wherein the side wipers can press the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of a last simultaneously with engagement of front wipers with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last so that the lasting margin can be bonded to the insole in a single operation and all the way from the tip to the heel region of the last.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel side wiper which may be used in a shoemaking machine of the just outlined characteristics.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a shoemaking machine wherein the side wipers can receive motion from the front wipers and wherein the side and front wipers are capable of pressing the lasting margin against the insole without the formation of any wrinkles, pockets or similar irregularities.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a fully automatic shoemaking machine whose wipers can be used for wiping of lasting margins on lasts of different size and/or shape, which can wipe the lasting margin of uppers on lasts used in the mass production of mocassins, pumps and many other styles of shoes, and which can be operated by persons having little technical skill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoemaking machine wherein the upper-engaging portions of the side wipers can be readily removed, inspected and/0r reinserted with little loss in time, wherein the pressure exerted by side wipers against the lasting margin can be varied in a number of ways, and wherein the wipers can cooperate with conventional grippers.

Summary 0 the invention One feature of our present invention resides in the provision of a machine for shaping shoe uppers wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last and is held against the exposed side of the insole by suitable grippers. The machine comprises front wiper means preferably including two coplanar wiping plates which are movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last, two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, the side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last axis and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions, operating means for moving the side wipers between wiping and retracted positions (preferably through the intermediary of the front wiper means), and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of side wipers to wiping positions so that each section presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last (actually against the exposed side of the insole )in the wiping position of the respective side wiper.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of our invention, each wiping element comprises at least three sections which are articulately connected to each other by means of suitable hinges. One of the sections is the foremost section and is immediately adjacent to and coplanar with one wiping plate of the front wiper means in the wiping position of the respective side wiper, and the rearmost section of each wiping element is articulately connected with the motion transmitting means to move out of the plane of the foremost section in response to movement of the corresponding side wiper to wiping position.

The motion transmitting means preferably comprises two motion transmitting members of variable length and including biasing means which stores energy during movement of side wipers to wiping positions in order to transmit to the sections a pressure which is sufficient to insure rapid cementing of the lasting margin to the insole. As a rule, the exposed side of the insole is coated with a rapidly setting adhesive which bonds the lasting margin to the insole when the front wiper means and the side wipers move toward and dwell in wiping positions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved shoemaking machine itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusual of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawmg. I

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a shoemaking machine which embodies one form of our invention, the front and side wipers of the machine being shown in retracted positions;

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of FIG. 1 but with the wipers in operative or wiping positions;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine as seen in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a composite wiping element forming part of a side wiper in the machine of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the rearmost section of the wiping element as seen in the direction of arrows from the line C-D of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the wiping element as seen in the direction of arrows from the line A-B of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a composite wiping element which constitutes a slight modification of the wiping element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the wiping element shown in FIG. 5', the section being taken substantially along the line A-B but counter to the direction indicated by arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third composite wiping element;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a fourth composite wiping element;

FIG. 12 is a similar fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a fifth composite wiping element;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of a sixth composite wiping element;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further composite wiping element wherein the sections are connected to a leaf spring.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring first to FIG. 3, there is shown a portion of a shoemaking machine whose purpose is to cement lasting margins 22 of uppers 2 to the undersides of insoles 20. The last is shown at 1. In accordance with the present invention, the wipers of the machine are constructed and assembled in such a way that the lasting margin 22 can be wiped in a single operation in the toe, ball and shank (arch) regions of the upper 2 by utilizing two sets of wipers, one set for wiping in the region of the toe and another set for wiping in the region of the ball and shank. After lasting, the margin 22 is held in requisite position by conventional grippers including a toe gripper (not shown) and two, four, six or more pairwise arranged side grippers of which only two (4 and 5) are shown in FIG. 3. These side grippers respectively comprise pairs of jaws 6, 12 and 7, 13 and are mounted on blocks or carriers 10 which are movably mounted in the machine frame. The numerals 8 and 9 denote conventional parts mounted on the blocks 10 for the grippers 4 and 5.

The front or toe wipers 14, 15 (see FIG. 1) resemble shears and are mounted in the plane of the insole 20. Their function is to press the lasting margin 22 against the edge of the last 1 in the toe region of the upper 2. These front wipers 14, 15 respectively comprise wiping elements in the form of plates 38, 39 and movable holders 36, 37 for the plates 38, 39. As the plates 38, 39 move toward the last 1, the gripping action of the grippers 4, 5 decreases and the lasting margin 22 is pulled out of the jaws of the grippers as the wiping action proceeds.

Satisfactory wiping in the toe region of the last 1 can be accomplished by means of two rigid plates 38, 39 because the bottom of the front part of the last 1 and the plates 38, 39 are located in a common plane so that the margin 22 will be free of creases and pockets when the plates 38, 39 assume their innermost or wiping positions. However, creasless and pocket-free wiping is much more difficult in the ball and shank regions of the last 1 where the underside of the last arches in a manner as shown at '51 in FIG. 4. In the region of the arch 51, the plane of the underside of the last 1 leaves the common plane of the front plates 38, 39. In many presently known shoe lasting machines, wiping of the margin 22 in the ball and shank regions of the last as carried out in a separate operation. As a rule, creases will tend to develop in zones where the wiping action of the plates 38, 39 ends. The construction of side wipers 16, 17 in our improved machine is such that the margin 22 can be wiped in a single operation, not only in the toe region but also in the ball and shank regions of the last 1.

FIG. 1 shows the front wipers 14, 15 in the retracted positions, i.e., the plates 38, 39 are distant from the last whose longitudinal axis is denoted by the numeral 32. In FIG. 2, the front wipers 14, 15 are respectively shown in their operative or wiping positions 14', 15. These wipers, as well as portions of the side wipers 16, 17, are mounted in a casing 24 (see the top of FIG. 1) which includes a base plate 26 and a cover plate or top plate 28. The wipers 14-17 are disposed between the plates 26, 28 and the base plate 26 is carried by legs 30, 31 which form part of the machine frame. The plates 38, 39 are rockable about a vertical pivot 34 which is reciprocable in the direction of the last axis 32 between the phantomline position and the solid-line position 34 of FIG. 2. Each of the holders 36, 37 resembles a plate cam which is movable in the space between the plates 26, 28 and is readily separable from the respective plates 38, 39. The manner in which these plates are detachably secured to the holders 36, 37 is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by broken lines. The wiping edges of the plates 38, 39 are respectively denoted by numerals 92, 93.

The side wipers 16, 17 respectively comprise plate-like holders or cams 40, 41 which are movable in the space between the plates 26, 28 and are detacha'bly connected with extensions 42, 43 of two composite wiping elements each of which comprises a series of hingedly connected sections 47, 48, 49, 50. The operative or Wiping positions of the component parts of the wipers 14-17 are shown in FIG. 2 and are denoted by the numerals used in FIG. 1 but each followed by a prime. The holders 40, 41 are arranged to move the extensions 42, 43 toward and away from the last axis 32 and the rearmost sections 50 of the side wipers 16, 17 (i.e., those sections which are nearest to the heel) are further movable up and down (out of the plane of the plates 38, 39) so as to impart to the assemblies of hingedly connected sections 47-50 a shape which conforms to the outline of the last 1 in the region of the ball and shank.

The motion-transmitting means for moving the rearrnost sections 50 up and down comprises two elongated motion transmitting members 54, 55 whose upper end portions 68 are articulately connected to the respective rearmost sections 50 by universal joints .52 (for example, by conventional ball and socket joints). The lower end portions 56 of the members 54, 55 are articulately connected with vertically and angularly adjustable carriages 62, 63 by means of universal joints 58. Actually, the lower end portions '56 are mounted on slides 59 which are adjustable lengthwise of the carriages 62, 63 so that each joint 56 can be moved up and down, about the leg or 31, as well as toward and away from the respective leg. The carriages 62, 63 are adjustably carried -by the legs '30, 31 in such a way that they can be moved up and down (toward and away from the horizontal plane of the plates 38, 39) and that they can turn about the respective legs. The hyperboloidal paths 53 in which the upper joints 52 travel during movement of sections from the retracted positions of FIG. 1 to the wiping positions 50' of FIG. 2 are denoted in FIG. 2 by phantom lines. During such movement of the sections 50 and joints 52 to the positions 50' and 52', the length of the motion transmitting members 54, varies, i.e., it decreases during movement of sections 50 to the positions 50" of FIG. 2. In addition, the members 54, 55 transmit to the side wiper sections 47-50 a pressure which is necessary to cement the lasting margin 22 to the adjoining portion of the insole 20.

In the embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the motion transmitting members 54, 55 cross each other in space so that the member 54 controls vertical movements of the left-hand section 50 and the member 55 controls vertical movements of the right-hand section 50. The upper end portions 68 of the members 54, 55 are curved in such a way that they cannot interfere with each other when the sections 50 are moved to the positions 50- of FIG. 2. Each of the motion transmitting members 54, 55 comprises the aforementioned lower end portion 56 which is articulately connected to the respective carriage 62, 63 (i.e., to the machine frame) by the joint 58, and an outer sleeve or cylinder 64 which meshes with the lower end portion 56 and accommodates biasing means 66 which tends to move the upper end portion 68 away from the lower end portion 56. The upper end portions 68 are connected with the respective sections 50 by the aforementioned joints 52. Each biasing means 66 comprises a relatively weak helical guide spring 70 and a relatively strong presser spring 71. The presser springs 71 will store energy subsequent to deformation of guide springs 70 when the side wipers 16, 17 are moved to closed positions. The bias of the biasing means 66 can be adjusted by knurled nuts 72 as well as by changing the position of carriages 62, 63 with reference to the legs 30, 31. Thus, the machine comprises a plurality of means for adjusting the bias of springs 70, 71 and the presence transmitted by sections 47-50 to the lasting margin 22 in order to achieve a satisfactory bond between the upper 2 and insole 20.

The springs 70 and/ or 71 may be replaced by packages of dished springs. All that counts is to utilize biasing means whose characteristic is such that they can properly press the sections 47-50 against the lasting margin 22 when the side wipers 16, 17 assume their wiping positions 16, 17'.

The means for operating the wipers 14, 15 includes a hydraulically or pneumatically operated piston rod 74 which is reciprocable in parallelism with the last axis 32 and is connected with a fork 75, the latter serving to transmit motion to the holders 36, 37 of the front wipers 14, 15. During forward movement of the piston rod 74 (downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1 and to the position 74 of FIG. 2), the pivot 34 for the plates 38, 39 travels in the same direction and ultimately assumes the solid-line position 34 of FIG. 2. The fork 75 then assumes the position 75. At the same time, the holders 36, 37 are caused to rock about the pivot 34 to the extent and in paths determined by arcuate cam slots 76, 77 provided in the holders 36, 37 and by guide pins 76a, 77a secured to the casing 24. The prongs of the fork 75 are articul-ately connected to the holders 36, 37 and also to the crosshead of the fork 75. 'It is clear that the holders 36, 37 can be operated by mechanical, electrical, magnetic or other suitable operating means.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating means 74, 75 also moves the side wipers 16, 17 because the holders 40, 41 of the side wipers 16, 17 are articulately connected with the holders 36, 37 by guide pins 78. These guide pins 78 are rigid with the holders 40, 41 and extend into cam slots 80, 81, respectively, provided in the holders 36, 37. The outer edge faces 82 of the holders 40, 41 are of convex shape and slide along concave ways 84 provided therefor in the casing 24 so that, during movement of extensions 42, 43 to the positions 42', 43 of FIG. 2, the holders "40, 41 travel in coplanar arcuate paths substantially at right angles to the axis 32 and toward each other, i.e., toward the opposite sides of the last 1. Each of the cam slots 80, 81 has a straight portion a and an arcuate portion 90 (see FIG. 2). In the absence of the aforementioned motion transmitting members 54, 55 the sections 48-50 of the wipers 16, 17 would move with and in the plane of the plates 38, 39, i.e., they would be unable to assume the positions 48'-50' of FIG. 4 or 7. In the region of their wiping edges 92, 93, the plates 38, 39 are shaped in such a way that they will enclose or overlie from below the adjoining portions of the lasting margin 22.

During the first stage of movement of the rearmost sections 50 from the positions shown in FIG. 1 toward the positions 50 of FIG. 2, the upper end portions 68 of the motion transmitting members 54, 55 will travel in arcuate paths and will simultaneously approach the lower end portions 56 so that the overall length of the members 54, 55 decreases and the biasing means 66 store energy. In the next stage, the biasing means move the sections 50 upwardly, i.e., out of the planes of the holders 40, 41 so that the sections 50 can engage with the edges of the last 1 in the region of the shank (see FIG. 4). The thus raised sections 50 tilt the intermediate sections 49 with reference to the intermediate sections 48, and the intermediate sections 49 tilt the intermediate sections 48 with reference to the foremost sections 47 which latter are shown as being rigid with the extensions 42, 43 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). It is clear that the number of sections in each of the side wipers 16, 17 may be increased beyond or reduced below four. The extent of tilting movement of sections 48-50 with reference to each other and Wit-h reference to the sections 47 is determined in advance by limiting means including the mutually inclined transverse surfaces 94, 96 (see FIG. 9) of these sections, i.e., these transverse surfaces permit only a limited amount of pivotal movement of the sections with reference to each other, but such limited movement sufiices to enable the sections 47-50 of side wipers 16, 17 to conform to the outline of the adjoining portion of the last 1.

The hyperboloidal paths 53 (FIG. 3) in which the joints 52 and sections 50' travel during movement of side wipers 16, 17 to or from wiping positions may but need not be mirror symmetrical with reference to the axis 32. Actually the paths 53 are asymptotic but their projections into a horizontal plane are of hyperboloidal shape.

The legs 30, 31 and the motion transmitting members 54, 55 are located at that (front) side of the shoemaking machine which is readily accessible to workmen.

The hinges which connect the sections 47-50 with each other are shown in FIGS. and 7. These hinges comprise parallel pintles 44, 45, 46 which respectively couple the sections 48, 49, 50 to the sections 47, 48, 49. Each of the sections 47-49 has two spaced projections which extend into complementary cutouts of the sections 48-50 and each of the sections 48-50 has a central projection which extends into the gap between the spaced projections of the adjoining section 47, 48 or 49. This is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the section 49 comprises two spaced projections 102, 104 defining between themselves a gap for the central projection 106 of the section 50. The pintle 46 extends through aligned bores in the projections 102, 106, 104. The arcuate line 60 of FIG. 5 indicates the boundary of a depression 192 provided in the upper side faces of the sections 47-50 and serving to accommodate the adjoining portion of the lasting margin 22 when the wipers 16, 17, their holders 40, 41, extensions 42, 43 and sections 47-50 assume the wiping positions 16, 17, '-43 and 47'-50' of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The depression 192 is also shown in FIG. 6 which is a transverse verical section through the rearmost section 50. It will be seen that the wiping edge e of the section 50 is provided with a smooth (rounded) transition 193 into the surface bounding the depression 192. This smooth transition 193 comes into engagement with the adjoining portion of the lasting margin 22 when the corresponding side wiper 16 or 17 moves toward the position 16' or 17 of FIG. 2. The depth of the depression 192 decreases in a direction toward the boundary line 60 so that the wiping action of the section 50 will be more effective as the movement of this section toward the position 50 progresses. The numeral 88 denotes in FIG. 7 a socket at the underside of the section 50; this socket forms part of the corresponding joint 52. The numeral 114 indicates the curvature of the composite wiping element 47-50 in the position 16 of the side wiper 16.

The upper side face of each foremost section 47 is formed with a cutout 85 and with a shoulder 86 (see FIG. 5 or 7). The cutout 85 receives the rearmost portion of the plate 38 or 39 and the rear edge of such plate 38 or 39 abuts against the shoulder 86 when the plates 38, 39 assume the positions 38', 39 of FIG. 2 so that the lasting margin 22 is engaged by a series of closely adjacent parts 38, 39, 47, 48, 49, 50 and cannot be crinkled or formed with pockets. The numerals 36, 37', 54 and denote in FIG. 2 the closed or operative positions of the parts 36, 37, 54 and 55.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mutually inclined transverse surfaces 94, 96 need not be identical between each pair of adjoining sections 47-48, 48-49 and 49-50. As shown, a

by way of example only, the central projection 106a of the section 49 has a transverse surface 108 whose inclination is greater and which is shorter than the transverse surface 96 of the section 48. Such transverse surfaces may be provided on the outer projections (see 102 and 104 in FIG. 5) of the sections and/or on the central projections of such sections. All that counts is to select the inclination of transverse surfaces in such a way that the sections will be capable of accurately following the outline of the adjoining portion of the last 1. FIG. 9 further shows the concave upper side faces 110, 111, 112, 113 of the sections 47-50. When the sections 47-50 assume the positions 4750 of FIG. 7, the upper side faces 110-113 together form an arcuate surface whose curvature is shown at 114.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, the line 100 of FIG. 2 denotes the contour of the space surrounded by the wiping edges of the plates 38, 39 and sections 47-50 of the side wipers 16, 17 in the operative positions of these parts. This line 100 is spaced inwardly from the edges of the insole 20 so that the plates 38, 39 and the two groups of sections 47-50 overlie the lasting margin 22 from below and press the latter against the underside of the insole. The plates 38, 39 and sections 47-50 are heated in a manner not shown in the drawings to effect rapid bonding of adhesive (e.g., a suitable cement) which is applied to the underside of the insole 20 and/ or to the inner side of the lasting margin so that the adhesive thereupon retains the lasting margin 22 in deformed condition. Additional heat can be radiated against the underside of the insole 20 and/or through the last 1. The pressure necessary to prevent displacement of the lasting margin 22 is supplied by the operating means 74-75 and by the biasing means 66 of the motion transmitting members 54, 55. The adhesive is heat-activatable and sets rapidly so that the wipers 14-17 can be retracted after a short dwell in the positions 14-17 of FIG. 2. Retraction is effected by operating means 74-75 in that the piston rod 74 moves from the position 74' back to the retracted position shown in FIG. 1. The fork entrains the holders 36, 37 and these holders entrain the holders 40, 41. During such retraction of the holders 40, 41, the motion transmitting members 54, 55 move from the solid-line positions 54, 55 to the phantom-line positions of FIG. 3 and their length increases so that the side wipers 16, 17 ultimately assume the phantom-line positions. The last 1 is then withdrawn and the machine is ready for the next operating cycle. The sections 47-50 automatically return into a common horizontal plane when the corresponding holders 40, 41 return to the positions shown in FIG. 1.

The biasing action of the springs 70, 71 in the motion transmitting members 54, 55 may be assisted by additional biasing means, for example, by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston assemblies (not shown) which cause the sections 47-50 (in the positions 47-50) to bear against the lasting margin 22 with a pressure which suffices to insure proper cementing of the upper 2 to the insole 20. Such cylinder and piston assemblies may be provided in addition to or as a substitute for the biasing means 66.

A very important advantage of our machine is that the provision of motion transmitting means 54, 55 and of composite wiping elements 47-50 contributes little or nothing to the bulk of the machine and that the side wipers 16, 17 can be used in connection with different sizes and/or styles of lasts. Moreover, the number of operations is less than in conventional shoemaking machines because the lasting margin can be wiped all the way from the tip to the heel region of the last. The component parts of the side wipers 16, 17 are of simple design and each thereof can be readily detached, inspected and reinserted without necessitating dismantling of other components.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown the wiping element of a modified side wiper which comprises sections 47, 48, 49 and a two-piece section 250 replacing the section 50 of FIGS. 5 t0 7. The two parts 98, 98a of the section 250 are hingedly connected to each other by a pintle 250A which is inclined with reference to the pintles 44-46. This enables the part 98 to pivot with reference to the part 98a and to more accurately conform to the outline of a last whose shank portion is curved not only in the manner as shown in FIG. 4 but also in a direction toward the longitudinal axis 32 of the last. Such lasts are often used in the manufacture of certain fancy shoe styles. It is clear that the section 250 could be subdivided into three or more parts, and that the section 49, 48 or 47, too, could be subdivided into two or more hingedly connected parts. The upper end portion 68 of the corresponding motion transmitting member 54 or 55 is articulately connected to the part 98 of the section 250. Thus, when the end portion 68 moves upwardly, it pivots the part 98 with reference to the part 98a, the part 98a pivots with reference to the section 49, and the sections 49, 48 pivot with reference to each other and with reference to the foremost section 47. The line 99 of FIG. 8 indicates the contour of the last.

FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a modified composite wiping element which can replace the wiping element 47-50 of FIG. 5. The section 116 has a male portion or tongue 122 which extends with some clearance into a complementary groove 124 of the adjoining section 126. When the section 116 is under tension (arrow 114), the center of curvature of the tip on its tongue 122 will move from the position 118 to the position 120. One wedgelike side face of the tongue 122 then abuts against the adjoining internal surface of the section 126 to lift the latter. In other words, the tongue 122 will be jammed in the groove 124 in response to a pull (arrow 114) on the section 116, and such jamming will take place when the sections are in strong compressive engagement with the lasting margin.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified hinge between two sections 128, 130 of a further composite wiping element which can replace the wiping element 47-50 of FIG. 5. This hinge comprises two substantially cylindrical pintles 132, 134 which are provided with slightly spaced flats and are connected to each other by screws or like fasteners 136. Each of these pintles extends into and is tumable, within limits, in a concave socket provided in the adjoining transverse surface 138, of the respective section. Once the pintles 132, 134 are fixed to each other, the magnitude of the angle alpha will be determined by the transverse surfaces 138, 140. For example, and if the section 128 is coupled to one of the motion transmitting members 54, 55, and if the corresponding motion transmitting member causes the section 128 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 142, the transverse surface 138 will abut against the transverse surface 140 and will change the angular position of the section 130- in the same way as the section 50 of FIG. 5 can change the angular position of the adjoining intermediate section 49. The angle alpha can be changed by changing the distance between the pintles 132, 134. At least one end of each socket is preferably open to allow for convenient insertion and withdrawal of pintles.

FIG. 12 illustrates two sections 226, 228 of a further composite wiping element. These sections are articulately connected to each other by a hinge including a substantially cylindrical pintle 230 having two flats 220, 222. The pintle 230 is aflixed to the section 226 by a screw or like fastener 224 and extends into a socket or cavity 232 provided in the transverse surface of the section 228. The transverse surface of the section 226 has two mutually inclined portions 234, 236 the former of which determines the magnitude of the angle alpha. The flats 220, 222 are parallel to the aXis of the pintle 230, and the flat 220 is shown as being immediately adjacent to the surface portion 236 of the section 226. The pintle 230 is secured to the section 226 in a first step and is thereupon introduced through one end of the socket 232. By changing the distance between the flat 220 and the section 226, the operator can change the angle alpha to thus convert the wiping element of FIG. 12 for use with a different last.

The surface portion 236 will abut against the section 228 in retracted position and the surface portion 234 will abut against the section 228 in wiping position of the wiping element shown in FIG. 12. One end of the socket 232 for the pintle 230- is preferably open.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a portion of a further composite wiping element which includes the sections 156, 158, 160 connected to each other by cylindrical pintles 144 having smaller-diameter end portions 146, 148. The end portion 148 is readily separable from and is received in the opening of a link 150 which is secured to the corresponding section by a screw 152. The links 150 may be rigid or each thereof may constitute a leaf spring. When the section 156 is lifted by a motion transmitting member (see the arrow 162 in FIG. 14), the section 158 is caused to change its angular position with reference to the section 160. The numeral 154 denotes a cutout in that edge face of the section 158 which is remote from the last axis. The pintles 144 are inserted from above, as viewed in FIG. 13. If the links 150 are elastic, and if the pintles 144 are received in their bores with some clearance, the sections 156, 158, 160 can be moved toward and away from each other. This enables the motion transmitting means (not shown) to move the sections 156, 158, 160 in three directions, substantially in the same way as described in connection with FIG. 8.

Referring finally to FIG. 15, there is shown a portion of a further composite wiping element which includes five sections 180, 182, 184, 186, 188 attached to the upper side of a strong leaf spring 190 of steel or the like by means of screws or analogous fasteners 192A. The right-hand end portion of the spring 190 (or the rightmost section is connected to the upper end portion of a motion transmitting member 198. The transverse surfaces 202, 204 will maintaain the sections 180-188 in a common plane when the wiping element of FIG. 15 is retracted and the spring will move the section 180- 188 to the illustrated positions when the wiping element is in actual engagement with the last. The upper sides of the sections 180188 form a continuous arcuate concave surface 200- which is in full contact with the adjoin ing portion of the lasting margin. The spring 190 can be omitted if the motion transmitting means for the wiping element of FIG. 15 comprises wedges which are driven from below into the gaps between the mutually inclined transverse surfaces of the sections 180188 in response to movement of side wipers to wiping positions. The just mentioned wedges can be provided in addition to the spring 190 and motion transmitting member 198. Their function is to change the position of sections 180188 with reference to each other and to subject the sections to requisite bonding pressure.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective Wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper, said motion transmitting means comprising a pair of elongated motion transmitting members each having an end portion articulately connected with one section of one of said wiping elements.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said front wiper means is movable in a substantially horizontal plane and wherein each of said wiping elements comprises a foremost section located in said horizontal plane and a rearmost section which constitutes said one section, said motion transmitting members being arranged to move said rearmost sections out of said horizontal plane in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said side wipers further comprises a holder and each of said foremost sections comprises an extension detachably secured to the respective holder, said operating means being arranged to transmit motion to said holders.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2, further comprising frame means for said front wiper means, for said side wipers and for said operating means, each of said motion transmitting members having a second end portion articulately connected with said frame means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the second end portions of said motion transmitting members are adjustable in directions toward and away from said horizontal plane and about axes which are substantially normal to said horizontal plane, said first mentioned and said second end portions of said motion transmitting members being movable with reference to each other in response to movement of said side wipers to and from wiping positions.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said motion transmitting members cross each other in space.

7. A combination as defined in claim 5, further comprising universal joints connecting the end portions of said motion transmitting members to said rearmost sections and to said frame means.

8. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted-positions; motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper; and ways for confining one section of each side wiper to movement in an arcuate path located in a predetermined plane during movement of said side wipers toward wiping positions, said motion transmitting means being arranged to move another section to each side wiper in a hyperboloid path and away from said predetermined plane in response to movement of said one section in said predetermined plane.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, further comprising a frame for said front wiper means, said side wipers and said motion transmitting means, and means for changing the position of said motion transmitting means with reference to said frame to thereby alter said hyperboloid paths.

10. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said motion transmitting members further comprises biasing means arranged to store energy during movement of said side wipers to wiping positions and to thereby urge said sections against the last.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said biasing means comprises a plurality of springs.

12. A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of means for adjusting the bias of said springs.

13. A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein at least one of said springs is a helical expansion spring.

14. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of at least three articulately connected sections, means for limiting the movements of said sections with reference to each other, and a plurality of hinge means connecting the respective sections to each other, each of said hinge means comprising a leaf spring and fastener means securing said leaf spring to the respective sections, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, further comprising wedge means arranged to penetrate between the sections of said wiping elements during movement of said side wipers between retracted and wiping positions to thereby change the angular positions of said sections with reference to each other.

16. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, each of said wiping elements comprising a foremost section which is immediately adjacent to said front wiper means in the wiping position thereof, a rearmost section which is remotest from said front wiper means, and at least one intermediate section, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper, said motion transmitting means being operatively connected with said rearmost sections and said rearmost sections being arranged to change the positions of said intermediate sections with reference to the foremost sections in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions.

17. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said sections of each wiping element have side faces which together form a continuous wiping surface in the wiping position of the respective side wiper, said continuous surface having an outline which is complementary to that of the ball and toe regions of the last.

18. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said front wiper means comprises a pair of wiping plates movable in a common plane into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last.

19. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein the sections of each wiping element are connected to each other by means of hinges defining substantially parallel pivot axes.

20. A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one section of each wiping element comprises a plurality of relatively movable parts and further comprising additional hinge means connecting said parts to each other for pivotal movement about an axis which is inclined with reference to said pivot axes.

21. A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said wiping elements comprises means for limiting the movements of said sections with reference to each other.

22. A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein said sections have side faces which together form a continuous concave surface conforming to the outline of the adjoining portion of the last in the wiping positions of said side wipers.

23. A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said wiping elements comprises hinge means connecting adjoining sections to each other, each of said hinge means comprising a pintle extending into registering bores provided in adjoining sections and a link connecting each pintle to one of the adjoining sections.

24. A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said wiping elements comprises a plurality of hinge means articulately connecting the respective sections to each other and wherein each of said hinge means comprises a substantially cylindrical pintle affixed to one section and extending into a socket provided in the adjoining section of the respective wiping element.

25. A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said wiping elements further comprises hinge means articulately connecting the respective sections to each other, each of said hinge means comprising a pair of parallel substantially cylindrical pintles each received in a complementary socket provided in one of said sections.

26. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said front wiper means comprises a pair of wiping plates and wherein each of said foremost sections is immediately adjacent to and coplanar with one of said plates, each of said rearmost sections being located outside of the plane of the respective foremost section in the wiping position of the corresponding side wiper.

27. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite Wiping element including a series of at least three articulately connected sections and means for limiting the movements of said sections with reference to each other, said limiting means comprising tongues and grooves provided on the adjoining sections of each wiping element, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portions of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respectiveside wiper.

28. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of at least three articulately connected sections, means for limiting the movements of said sections with reference to each other, and a plurality of hinge means articulately connecting said sections to each other, each of said hinge means comprising a. substantially cylindrical pintle affixed to one section and extending into a socket provided in the adjoining section of the respective wiping element, said pintles being provided with flats and said wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper.

29. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, said side wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions; and motion transmitting means for moving one section of each wiping element against the shank region of the last in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions.

30. In a machine for shaping shoe uppers on a last wherein the lasting margin of the upper overlies the underside of the last, a combination comprising front wiper means movable into and from wiping engagement with the lasting margin in the toe region of the last; two side wipers each comprising a composite wiping element including a series of articulately connected sections, said side Wipers being disposed at the opposite sides of the last and being movable between wiping positions in which their respective sections engage the lasting margin in the ball and shank regions of the last and retracted positions; operating means for moving said side wipers between wiping and retracted positions through the intermediary of said front wiper means; motion transmitting means for moving at least one section of each wiping element with reference to the remainder of the respective wiping element in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions so that each of said sections presses the adjoining portion of the lasting margin against the last in the wiping position of the respective side wiper, said motion transmitting means comprising a pair of motion transmitting members each having a first end portion articulately connected with one section of one of said wiping elements and a second end portion; and frame means adjustably supporting the second end portions of said motion transmitting members, said motion transmitting members being of variable length and the length of each of said motion transmitting members decreasing in response to movement of said side wipers to wiping positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

